HBO fantasy drama series based on George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels — depicting a medieval-style world of dynastic struggle, political intrigue, and warfare — which became the most-watched television series in history and brought sophisticated political realism to fantasy television.
Demonstrated that fantasy could carry genuine historical and political seriousness — Martin's influences (Wars of the Roses, Byzantine politics) made Game of Thrones a vehicle for exploring dynastic power, the gap between idealism and realpolitik, and the costs of political violence — the most historically informed popular fantasy since Tolkien.
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